For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.—1 Cor. 11.19.

TheEconomy of the CovenantsBetweenGod and ManByHerman Witsius

BOOK III. CHAPTER
VIII.

Of Justification.

I. THAT faith which we have in the
last chapter treated of as saving, is usually also called justifying
in
the divinity schools. And since justification is its first memorable
effect, it will by no means be improper to speak of it now, and that with
the greater accuracy, as it so nearly concerns the whole of religion, that
we stumble not in explaining this article. The doctrine of justification
diffuseth itself through the whole body of divinity, and if the foundation
here is well laid, the whole building will be the more solid and grand;
whereas a bad foundation or superstructure threatens a dreadful ruin. The
pious Picardians, as they were called in Bohemia and Moravia, valued this
article, at its true price, when in their confession of faith, Art. 6.
speaking of justification, they thus write: "this sixth article is accounted
with us the most principal of all, as being the sum of all Christianity
and piety. Wherefore our divines teach and handle it with all diligence
and application, and endeavour to instill it into all." Let us to the utmost
of our power imitate them in this, beginning with its name.

II. To justify, in Hebrew qyd[h,
in Greek dikaiwn, is very frequently and ordinarily
used in a declarative sense, and signifies to account, declare,
prove any one just. Which is manifest from those places of scripture,
where it occurs, as the act of a judge, as Psalm 82.8. "do justice to (justify)the
afflicted and needy;" and this is especially the case, when it is opposed
to condemnation, as Deut. 25.1. Prov. 17.15. Isa. 5.22,23.

III. And doubtless this word has such a signification
when God is said to be justified, as Psalm 51.4. "that thou mightest
be justified when thou speakest;" that is, that thou mightest be declared,
proved, acknowledged to be just, when thou pronouncest sentence. In like
manner, Matt 11.19. "wisdom is justified of her children," that is, they
who are truly regenerated of God by the Gospel, have accounted the wisdom
of God, which the Scribes and Pharisees falsely accounted foolishness,
to be, as it really is, the most consummate wisdom, and cleared it from
the calumny of folly, with which it was branded. In the same sense it is
said, Luke 7.29. "all the people and the publicans justified God."

IV. Nor can this word have any other than a forensic signification,
when Christ is said to be justified, 1 Tim. 3.16. and still more
fully Isa. 50.8. where the Lord himself thus speaketh: "he is near that
justifieth me, who will contend with me? Let us stand together; who is
mine adversary?" Almost in the same manner as the apostle speaks of the
elect, Rom. 8.33,34. How was Christ justified? (1st.) When the Father declared
that he was holy and without spot, according to his mind and will, and
even such "in whom he was well pleased," Matt. 3.17. and 17.5. (2dly.)
When he pronounced him innocent of all the crimes with which he was falsely
accused, and for which he was unjustly condemned. (3dly.) When he declared,
that he had made full satisfaction to his justice, and was no longer under
the guilt of those sins which as Surety he took upon himself. The two former
acts of justification respect Christ as man; the last as Mediator. And
in this view he is called "the righteous or just servant of God," Isa.
53.11. not only as holy and without sin in himself, but as one who had
also fulfilled all that righteousness to which he bound himself by his
voluntary engagement, whereby, though he was the Son, yet he became the
servant of God, and by his resurrection was declared to have performed
the whole, and so was exalted to that state, that he might be able to justify
many, or procure righteousness for many, by virtue of his own righteousness.

V. But we are not to imagine we have accomplished any
great matter, when we have shewn that justification is often taken in a
forensic or law sense. For scarce any who love to be called Christians,
have such a bold front or stubborn mind as to deny it. Certainly the Popish
doctors themselves generally own it; Bellarm. de justificat. Lib. 1.
c. i. Becan. Sum. Theol. T. 2. Tract. 4. c. iii.
Tirin.
Controvers. 15. No. 1. Nor do they deny that Paul himself sometimes
treats of justification in that sense: Estius in Comm.
ad Rom. 2.13.
observes, that to be justified there is the same thing as to be
"adjudged, declared, accounted righteous, according, says he, to
the most usual language of scripture." Which interpretation Ruardus Tapperus
also approves, ad Art. 8. p. 32. I will do my townsman1
the honour to quote his words. "As to what was aforesaid, says he,
it is to be considered, that in scripture, to be justified, not only signifies,
to be endowed and adorned with righteousness; but sometimes also to be
pronounced, declared, adjudged, allowed, and esteemed just or righteous.
According to which interpretation, blessed Augustine explains the apostle
Paul's expression. The doers of the law shall be justified, "that is, says
he, shall be accounted and esteemed just." In like manner, Cornelius
a Lapide on Rom. 8.33. "it is God that justifieth," thus comments; "it
is God that acquits these elect persons, namely, his faithful people and
true Christians, from their sins, and absolves from the charge brought
against them by sin and the devil, and pronounces them just," or righteous.
The state of the controversy therefore between us and the doctors of the
church of Rome, is not whether justification be sometimes taken in a forensic
or law sense: for that is confessed on both sides.

VI. What then? Are we thus to state the question, namely,
whether the term to justify has always in scripture a forensic sense?
But the most eminent Protestant divines do not affirm this, and therefore
it would be too harsh and inhuman to charge them with prevarication on
that account. Beza on Titus 3.7. thus comments; "I take the term justification
in a large sense, as comprehending whatever we obtain from Christ, as well
by imputation, as by the efficacy of the Spirit in our sanctification,
that we may be artioi, that is, perfect and
complete in him. Thus also the term justify is taken, Rom. 8.30." Much
to the same purpose Thysius in synops. Purior. Theolog. Leyden. Disput.
23.
sect. 3. Nor yet do we deny, that, on account of their very great and
close connection, justification seems sometimes to comprise sanctification
also, as a consequent, Rom. 8.30. Titus 3.7, &c. I shall add one testimony
more, namely, Chamierus Panstrat. T. 3. Lib. 10, c.
1. No. 6. who speaks to this purpose: "We are not such ridiculous
judges of words as not to know, nor such impertinent sophisters, as not
to allow that the terms justification and sanctification,
are put one for the other: yea, we know that they are called saints principally
on this account, that in Christ they have remission of sin. And we read
in the Revelations, 'let him that is righteous, be righteous still;' which
can only be understood of the progress of inherent righteousness; and we
deny not, that there may be a promiscuous use of the words perhaps in other
places."

VII. And indeed this ingenuity of these very great men
is not to be too much canvassed, who, though they have granted so much
to their adversaries, have yet, in the main question, happily triumphed
over them. Nevertheless we see no sufficient reasons why they should have
been so liberal to them. There had been no violence put on the alleged
passages, if in them the term justification should be taken in the sense
in which Paul commonly takes it: nor doth it appear that all things would
have flowed less agreeably.

VIII. What should hinder us from explaining Rom. 13.30.
in this manner? Whom he did predestinate,that is, whom,
by his most free and immutable decree, he has chosen to grace and glory,
them
he also called, that is, by his word and Spirit he sweetly invited,
and powerfully drew them from a state of sin and misery to communion with
Christ, and being endowed with faith, regenerated them: and whom he
called, them he also justified; that is, as soon as they were united
to Christ by the Holy Spirit and by faith, he, on the account of the merits
of Christ, imputed to them, acquitted them from the guilt of sin, and adjudged
them to have a right to all the good things of Christ, as well in grace
as in glory: and whom he justified, them he also glorified; that
is, he not only gave them a right, but also put them in actual possession
of the greatest blessings, (1st.) By sanctifying them, and transforming
them more and more to his own image, and making them partakers of a divine
nature, which doubtless is a great degree of glory. (2dly.) By plentifully
pouring in upon them the sweetest consolations of his Spirit, which are,
as it were, the preludes of joy and gladness. (3dly.) and lastly, By making
them perfectly happy, first in soul, and then in soul and body together.

IX. But we think it far more proper to comprise sanctification
under
glorification than to refer it to justification. For, it
is familiar to the Holy Spirit, to delineate holiness under the names of
beauty, ornament, and glory. Thus Psalm 103.5. holiness becometh
thine house. Psalm 110.3. thy people shall be willing in the day
of thy power, in the beauties of holiness. Nay, by the very term glory,
holiness and righteousness are expressed, Psalm 45.13. the king's daughter
is all glorious within: But what else is meant there by that glory,
but the genuine holiness of believers? Or as Peter speaks, 1 Pet. 3.4.
"the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the
ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great
price:" add Isa. 62.2. and the Gentiles shall see thy RIGHTEOUSNESS,
and all kings thy GLORY; where these two words
are used alternately one for the other: and justly, for the highest pitch
of our glory consists in a perfect conformity to God, 1 John 3.2. But holiness
is the image of God, Eph. 4.24. so that saints who accurately express,
or resemble that image, are on that account called the glory of Christ,
2 Cor. 8.28. Why then should we not account our conformity to God in
holiness as no contemptible first fruits of glory? Certainly Paul calls
the progress made in sanctification, a transformation,
or a being
changed from GLORY to GLORY,
2 Cor. 3.18.

X. It is plain, that with the same propriety we may understand
by justification, Titus 3.7. absolution from guilt, and an adjudging to
eternal life. For the first work of a man who is regenerated by the Holy
Spirit, is the work of faith, the infallible consequent of which is, the
remission of sins; this is either succeeded by, or attended with, the hope
of the inheritance of eternal life. What probable reason is there then
to make us to depart from this sense? And if we would have sanctification
contained in any of the words which the apostle makes use of, why shall
we not rather refer it to regeneration, and the renewal of the Holy
Ghost? For really, sanctification differs no otherways from the first
regeneration and renovation than as the continuance of an act differs from
the beginning of it. And we are sure, that the apostle exhorts the Romans
who had been, for some time regenerated, to a progress in sanctification,
when he writes, Rom. 12.2. be ye transformed by the renewing of your
minds; and in like manner, Eph. 4.23. be renewed in the spirit of
your mind. As the beginning of this renovation goes before justification
strictly so called, so the progress of it serves to promote the certainty
and the sense of justification; and in both respects it was excellently
well said by the apostle that the elect are regenerated by the Holy Spirit,
shed on them abundantly; that being thus justified by his grace, that is,
acquitted from sin, and conscious to themselves of absolution, they might
lawfully, yea, in full assurance, hope for the inheritance of eternal life.

XI. As to Rev. 22.11. he that is righteous, let him
be righteous still; it does not appear that any fuller sense can be
put on these words, than if we thus explain them: whoever is reputed righteous
before God by faith on Christ, should think it his duty, or concern, to
verify by his actions this his justification before men and to his own
conscience; and so by faith and the exercise of it, and by studying the
word of God, he may have a more abounding consolation concerning his righteousness.
And by this reasoning too the forensic use of this term is still retained.

XII. Others also allege, 1 Cor. 6.11. "but ye are washed,
but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus,
and by the Spirit of our God." But even this testimony does not prove that
justification is equivalent to sanctification, rather the contrary. For
after the apostle had said that the Corinthians were washed, that
is, delivered from the power of sin, he more particularly shews wherein
that washing consisteth. Now the power of sin over man is twofold. (1st.)
That it compels him to the servile works of wickedness. (2dly.) That it
condemns him. The dominion is destroyed by sanctification: the
power of condemning, by justification. Both these are bestowed
on the Elect in the name of the Lord Jesus; that is, on account
of his merits, and by his authority and will; and by the Spirit of our
God, who is the author of sanctification, and sweetly insinuates the
sentence of justification into the minds of believers. Both these benefits
are sealed in baptism, to the washing of which there is here an evident
allusion. Nor should it offend us, that sanctification is here put before
justification; a diligent enquirer cannot but know that the scripture does
not always exactly observe that order, as that things first in time are
set in the first place. Thus even Peter puts vocation before election,
2 Pet. 1.10. Besides, justification consists of various articles, as we
will shew more distinctly in its place.

XIII. However, I cannot conceal that there are two places
in which the term justify may seem to denote something more than
a mere declaration of righteousness, though that be also included. The
first is, Isa. 53.11. "by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify
many." It is indeed true that our Lord Jesus Christ is constituted judge
by the Father, and consequently empowered to absolve his Elect who are
given him: but here he is not represented as a judge pronouncing sentence,
but as the cause which, both by merit and efficacy, brings and gives to
his own people that righteousness on account of which they may be absolved
at the bar of God: and the unusual construction of the word with the particle
of the dative case calls for our notice. It is therefore the same as if
the prophet had said, he will make a righteousness unto many, that
which he himself performed as the cause of righteousness, he will communicate
to many: and thus dicaiwma his righteousness
will redound to many, and unto justification of life, as the
apostle speaks, Rom. 5.18. which I would have to be compared with this
passage.

XIV. The other testimony I hinted at is, Dan. 12.3. where
the faithful preachers of the Gospel are said to be justifying many.
None doubts that it belongs to the office of the ministers of the Gospel
to publish, in the name of God, absolution from sin to the contrite in
heart. But the compass of their function is much more extensive, namely,
that by their preaching, example, and prayers, they may bring as many as
possible to such a state as remission of sins may be preached, and that
with special application unto them, who by faith and repentance are reconciled
unto God, and are diligent in the practice of holiness. The ministry of
reconciliation with which they were entrusted comprises all this. They
who are diligent in the performance of these things, are said to justify
many, because they stir them up to repentance, which is the beginning
of righteousness or holiness; to faith, whereby they lay hold on the righteousness
of Christ, on account of which they may be pardoned; to the practice of
a holy life, which when they prove by their works, they may obtain fuller
assurance of their justification by the ministers in the name of God.

XV. We have been the fuller on the signification of this
word justify, that, at the same time, we might shew the form of
various testimonies of scripture, nothing being more pleasant and useful
than the study of this. But when treating of justification we shall always
take that term in the declarative sense. Which being observed once
for all, let us now address ourselves to the more distinct examination
of the thing itself.

XVI The declaration of God concerning men either regards
some of their particular actions, or their whole state. The
actions
of men are considered, either in relation to the rule of the divine
will, or in comparison with the actions of others, whether more
or less evil. God pronounces absolutely on actions when he declares them
either evil condemning man in them; as Nathan said to David in the
name of God, 2 Sam. 12.9. "thou hast despised the commandment of the Lord,
to do evil in his sight:" or good, justifying a man in them; in
which sense David, having his eyes intent on the justice of his cause against
his enemies, prays, Psalm 7.8. "judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness,
and according to mine integrity that is in me." Thus God justified Job
when he declared that he "spoke of him the thing which is right," Job 42.8.

XVII. The example of Phinehas is here very memorable,
Paulm 106.30,31. "then stood up Phinehas and executed judgment; and so
the plague was stayed. And that was accounted unto him for righteousness,
unto all generations for ever more." The fact of Phinehas was thus: Zimri,
one of the princes of the tribe of Simeon, brought into his tent, with
an incredible impudence, Cozbi, a daughter of the king of Midian, in the
sight of the princes of his people, with an intent to pollute her and himself
with whoredom; while Moses, with the whole congregation, stood in tears,
at the door of the tabernacle, to deprecate the vengeance of God already
broke out. Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the high priest, and himself a priest,
could
not bear this sight; but being inflamed with a mighty zeal, and moved
with the indignity of the action, rushed from amidst the congregation,
and taking up a javelin, thrust them both through in the very act of their
whoredom.

XVIII. There were many things in this action which, to
outward appearance, were faulty. (1st.) Phinehas was a priest, whom it
did not become to imbrue his hands in human blood. For if it brought guilt
on a priest, to be expiated by sacrifice, to have touched a dead body,
much more to have made a living man a dead carcase. (2dly.) He was none
of the judges of Israel, whom Moses, at the command of God himself, deputed
to punish the guilty, by hanging them up before the Lord, Numb. 25.4,5.
(3dly.) He did not observe the due order or course of justice, because
he began with the execution. (4thly.) The whole seemed to breathe an enraged
passion of mind, rather than a zeal tempered with due lenity. For these
reasons, Phinehas might be thought to have been guilty of a horrid murder;
and on that account, to have forfeited the honour of the priesthood.

XIX. But it is plain, it appeared otherwise in the sight
of God, who pronounced the action right, commending this zeal of his, and
declaring, that he was so pleased with it, that therefore he averted his
great wrath from the children of Israel. And Phinehas was so far from being
divested of the priesthood on that account, that, on the contrary, God
adjudged to him and his seed after him a perpetual priesthood, by a covenant
of peace that was to last for ever, Numb. 25.11-13. And this is what David
sings, "it was counted unto him for righteousness," that is, it was judged
that he had acted in a due and regular manner, and was therefore more worthy
of praise and reward, than of blame and punishment.

XX. And as this man was justified in that absolutely,
so others are justified in their actions, comparatively, or when
compared with the actions of others which are far worse. In this sense
it is said, Jer. 3.11. "the backsliding Israel hath justified herself more
than treacherous Judah." That is, by her works hath shewed herself more
righteous and innocent, professing according to the sentiments of her heart,
and not acting so hypocritically and deceitfully, as the prevaricating
and dissembling Judah, who would appear, as if she was converted to me,
while in the mean time, she profanes my name. In like manner, Ezek. 16.31.
"thou hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast
done." Thou hast behaved in such a manner, that in comparison of thee,
they may seem to be innocent.

XXI. Thus much for the declaration of God concerning the
actions
of men. On the other hand, his declaration as to their state is of several
kinds. For either God considers them as they are in themselves,
according to inherent qualities, either vicious through corrupt
nature,
or holy and laudable through reforming grace; or as they
are reputed in Christ the surety.

XXII. God can neither consider nor declare men to be otherwise
than as they really are. For his judgment is according to truth," Rom.
2.2. and therefore they, who are still under the dominion of sin, and walk
with delight, according to their depraved lusts, are judged and declared
by God to be unregenerate, wicked, and slaves of the devil, as they really
are; for, "by no means does he clear the guilty," Exod. 34.7. but they
who are regenerated by his grace, created anew after his image, and heartily
give themselves up to the practice of sincere holiness, are by him absolved
from the sin of profaneness, impiety, and hypocrisy, and are no longer
looked upon as dead in sins, slaves to the devil, children of the world;
but as true believers, his own children, restored to his image, and endowed
with his life. It was thus he justified his servant Job, declaring, "that
there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one
that feareth God and escheweth evil," Job 1.8.

XXIII. And this is still the case of all believers. The
devil indeed, who is the accuser of the brethren, frequently charges them
with hypocrisy before God, as if they did not serve him in sincerity; and
he not only thus accuses them before God, but he also disquiets their conscience,
as if all their faith and piety were only a mask and outward shew, by which
they have hitherto imposed not only on others, but also on themselves.
In order to calm the consciences of believers, when thus shaken by the
false accuser, they have need to be absolved from this accusation, and
justified from this false testimony before God; which God also daily does,
assuring the elect of the sincerity of their conversion, by the testimony
of his Spirit, and thereby shewing, that "the praise of a true Jew is of
him." Rom. 2.29. This justification is indeed very different from that
other, of which we shall presently treat, wherein the person is absolved
from sins, whereof he is really guilty, and which are forgiven him on Christ's
account. In this we are speaking of he is acquitted of sins, which he is
not chargeable with, and is declared not to have committed.

XXIV. The foundation of this justification can be nothing
but inherent holiness and righteousness. For, as it is a declaration concerning
a man, as he is in himself: by the regenerating and sanctifying
grace of God, so it ought to have for its foundation, that which is found
in man himself: He that doth righteousness is righteous, says John,
1 John 3.7. and Peter says, Acts 10.34,35. "of a truth, I perceive, that
in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted
with God." And Luke in the name of God, gives this testimony to the parents
of John the Baptist, that "they were righteous before God, walking in all
the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless," Luke 1.6. But yet
inherent righteousness is not the foundation of this justification, from
its own worthiness, or because it is a holiness exactly commensurate with
the rule of the law, but because it is the work of the Holy Spirit in the
elect, which God cannot but acknowledge and delight in as his own, and
because the failings with which it is always stained in this world are
forgiven for Christ's sake.

XXV. In this sense we think the apostle James speaks of
justification in that much controverted passage, James 2.21,24. where he
declares, that "Abraham was not justified by faith only, but also by works,"
and insists upon it, that every man ought to be justified in this manner.
For the scope of the apostle is to shew, that it is not sufficient for
a Christian to boast of the remission of his sins, which indeed is obtained
by faith only, but then it must be a living faith on Christ; but that besides
he ought to labour after holiness, that being justified by faith only,
that is, acquitted from the sins he had been guilty of, on account of Christ's
satisfaction, apprehended by faith, he may likewise be justified by his
works, that is, declared to be truly regenerated, believing and holy; behaving
as becomes those who are regenerated, believing and holy. Thus our father
Abraham behaved, who having been before now justified by faith only, that
is, obtained the remission of his sins, was afterwards also justified by
his works. For, when he offered up his son to God, then God said to him,
"now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son,
thine only son, from me," Gen. 22.12. And James insists upon it, that this
last justification is so necessary to believers, that, if it be wanting,
the first ought to be accounted only vain and imaginary.

XXVI. These things are evident from scripture: but lest
any after the manner of the world should ridicule this, I inform the more
unskillful, that this is no invention of mine, but that the most celebrated
divines have, before me, spoken of such a "justification according to inherent
righteousness and of works." Bucerus in altero Colloquio Ratisbonensi,
p. 313. says, "we think that this begun righteousness is really a true
and living righteousness, and a noble excellent gift of God; and that the
new life in Christ consists in this righteousness, and that all the saints
are also righteous by this righteousness, both before God and before, men,
'and that on account thereof the saints are also justified by a justification
of works,' that is, are approved, commended and rewarded by God." Calvin
teaches much the same, Instit. lib.3. c.17. §8. which concludes
with these words, "The good works done by believers are counted righteous,
or which is the same, are imputed for righteousness." The very learned.
Ludovicus de Dieu has at large explained and proved this opinion, in Comment.
ad Rom. 8.4. And he quotes, as agreeing with him herein, Daniel Colonius,
formerly regent or professor of the French college at Leyden. The same
is also maintained by the Rev. Dr. Peter de Witte, that very able defender
of the truth, in Controversia de justificatione adversus Socinianos,
And Triglandius explains the passage of James to the same purpose with
us, making, use of the very same distinction of justification, Examine
Apologiæ Remonstrantium, c.21. p.316.

XXVII. Let us now at length proceed to treat of the justification
of man as a sinner, but considered as in Christ the Surety. As this subject
is the foundation of all solid comfort, so it is full of mysteries and
perplexed with many controversies: nevertheless it is clearly delivered
in the scriptures, if men would only be satisfied with their simplicity,
and not shut their eyes against the light, which, so freely shines upon
them, nor give way to curious niceties, and the roving of a luxuriant fancy.
We thus define the gospel justification of a sinner: "It is a judicial,
but gracious act of God, whereby the elect and believing sinner, is absolved
from the guilt of his sins, and hath a right to eternal life adjudged to
him, on account of the obedience of Christ, received by faith."

XXVIII. This is evident, that all men, considered in themselves,
are abominable sinners before God, and obnoxious to eternal death. Paul
before proved both Jews and Gentiles to be all under sin; so that every
month may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God, Rom.
3.9,19. But since, as we observed before, the judgment of God is always
according to truth, it cannot be otherwise, but that God declare those
who in themselves are sinners, and liable to death, to be really so in
themselves. Yet the scripture declares, that God justifies sinners,
that is, acquits them from sin and from being liable to eternal
death, and adjudges them a right to eternal life. And unless this
was the case, the salvation and hope of all mankind had been at an end.
But certainly God does this agreeably to his truth and justice. It is therefore
necessary, that they who are sinners in themselves appear in another light
to a justifying God, namely, as considered in another, whose perfect righteousness
may be so imputed to them, as in virtue thereof they may be reputed righteous.
And this is the mystery of our justification in the faith of Christ.

XXIX. After all had sinned in Adam, and come short of
the glory of God, the only begotten Son of God offered himself as Surety
to the Father, and promised, that, at the time appointed, he would fulfill
all the demands of the law for the elect. And he also executed this with
all fidelity: he was born of a virgin, without any spot of sin, being conceived
by the Holy Ghost, and endowed with original righteousness, in order to
remove the guilt of original sin, and make up the defect of original righteousness
which the elect are born without. Besides, from his very infancy, and through
the whole course of his life, especially at the close thereof, he endured
all manner of sufferings, both in soul and in body, humbling, nay, emptying
himself, and being obedient to the Father unto death, even the death of
the cross, that he might bear, in their stead, the punishment due to the
sins of his chosen people; the dignity of the person who suffered, abundantly
compensating what was wanting in the duration of the punishment, which
otherwise must have been eternal. In fine, he fully performed for his people
all that the law required, in order to obtain a right to eternal life.
Had the elect themselves, in their own persons, performed what Christ did
for them, there is no doubt but they would have obtained that for which
they might have been justified by God, nay, and ought to have been so,
at least according to the covenant.2

XXX. Moreover, since whatever of this kind Jesus performed,
he did it by a voluntary undertaking, with the Father's approbation, in
the room and stead of the elect, it is deservedly imputed to
them, and declared to their account: just as what a surety pays
for a debtor, or in his stead, is accounted as paid by him to the first
creditor. Paul, in the fifth chapter of his epistle to the Romans, has
handled this point in an excellent and divine manner: the sum of which
is contained ver. 19. "as by one man's disobedience many were made [constituted]
sinners; so by the obedience of one, shall many be made [constituted]
righteous."

XXXI. Moreover, to set the ground
of this imputation in a clearer light, we must observe that Christ, according
to the eternal counsel of the Father, not only undertook all these things
for the elect, and fulfilled them agreeable to his undertaking, but also,
that the elect, before the righteousness of Christ is imputed to them for
justification of life, are so closely united to him by faith, as to be
one
body, 1 Cor. 12.13. and which is still more indivisible, or indissoluble,
one spirit with him, 1 Cor. 6.17. nor are they only
united,
but he and they are one, and that by such an unity or oneness, in
which there is some faint resemblance of that most simple oneness, whereby
the divine persons are one among themselves, John 17.22,23. But in virtue
of this union or oneness, which the elect have with Christ by faith, they
are accounted to have done and suffered whatever Christ did and suffered
for them.

XXXII. Elect sinners, destitute of any righteousness of
their own, that is, not having in themselves that for which they can have
a right to eternal life, are by faith "found in Christ, having that righteousness
which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God
by faith," Phil. 3.9. and that in this manner, namely, they are acquitted
from obnoxiousness to eternal death, on account of the voluntary sufferings
of Christ, which were completed by a most cruel and dreadful death. Original
sin is pardoned, and the soul presented unspotted before God, on account
of his most pure nativity, being conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the
virgin. Eternal life is adjudged to be communicated to them in certain
degrees of it, on account of the most perfect obedience of his whole life.
This is the sum of this mystery, which being comprehended in a few words,
we have thought proper thus to lay before the reader's contemplation, as
it were, in one view. But there are not a few things which require a fuller
explication.

XXXIII. The JUDGE in this cause is
God, Rom. 8.33. Isa. 43.25. For he is "that one law-giver, who is able
to save and to destroy," Jam. 4.12. And as he alone has a right and power
to inflict due punishment on the sinner, so likewise he alone has a right
to acquit him; because he is "the judge of the whole world," Rom. 3.6.

XXXIV. What is in general said of God, essentially
considered,
is especially appropriated to the Father, hypostatically
or personally,
who is "the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus," Rom, 3.26, and
"who was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their
trespasses unto them," 2 Cor. 5.19. Where the distinction made of God
from Christ sufficiently shews, that God the Father is there meant.
Reason also requires, that justification be especially ascribed to God
the Father. For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, appears in judgment
in behalf of the guilty, as Surety, as Advocate, and in fine,
as furnishing them with those evident proofs, by which they may
be able to demonstrate that divine justice has been satisfied for them.
The Holy Ghost, by working faith in the guilty, makes them to lay
hold on, and present the Surety and his satisfaction in judgment. And in
this respect both stand on the side of the guilty. But the Father
acts
as judge, who righteously, and at the same time mercifully, absolves
the guilty, on account of the satisfaction of the Son, apprehended by the
power of the Holy Spirit.

XXXV. But a certain person has rashly asserted, that the
Son
and Holy Ghost cannot, for the reasons above mentioned, act the
part of judge, and pronounce sentence. For, in, the economy of our
salvation, the persons in the Trinity sustain various relations, which
are to be reconciled with and not placed in opposition to each other. He
who sometimes is described as Surety, is at other times represented
as judge, John 5.22,27. And indeed Christ himself claims the power
of forgiving sins, Mat. 9.2. And in the day of the general judgment, himself
will peremptorily pronounce the justifying sentence upon the elect.
Nor is it inconsistent for one and the same person to be both the meritorious
cause of justification, and the advocate of the guilty, and
at the same time the judge of the cause. All these relations agree
in one Christ, and teach us that fullness of salvation which is to be found
in him.

XXXVI. The Holy Ghost also hath his own proper parts in
this matter, for it is he who brings in and seals that sentence of absolution
pronounced in the court of heaven, to and upon the believing soul in the
court of conscience, and so pacifies and cheers it; he shews it "the things
that are freely given to it of God," 1 Cor. 2.12. and "bears witness with
the spirit of believers," Rom. 8.16. that they are reconciled to God. Hence
it appears, that none of the divine persons are to be excluded from pronouncing
sentence.

XXXVII. That thing for which we are justified, and which
some call the matter of our justification, is the perfect righteousness
of Christ alone: this Christ finished for his elect, "for their sakes sanctifying
himself," John 17.19. The Father imputes the same to his chosen
people, as he imputed their sins to Christ: "he hath made him to be sin
for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God
in him," 2 Cor. 5.21. But it is impossible to explain how Christ was made
sin for us, unless in that sense in which our sins are imputed to him,
that he might suffer for them; and we are made righteousness in him in
the same manner that his righteousness is imputed to us, that on account
of it we may receive the crown. It is evident that in scripture, the righteousness
of Christ is called our righteousness: for he is the Lord our righteousness,
Jer.
23.6. He of God is made unto us righteousness, 1 Cor. 1.30. Now
it is ours either inherently, or by imputation, for there
can be no third way: it is not ours inherently; for in that sense
Paul opposes it to ours, Phil. 3.9. nor does the nature of the thing admit
that acts performed by Christ can inherently be ours. It therefore
remains, that it is ours by imputation; God imputing to man
righteousness
without works, Rom. 4.6.

XXXVIII. Arminius by his subtlety, frames vain empty quibbles,
when he contends that the righteousness of Christ cannot be imputed to
us for righteousness, because it is his very righteousness; laying this
down as a foundation, that which is imputed to us for righteousness is
not properly our righteousness. Which none will admit, who has considered
that every judgment of God is according to truth; whence it follows, that
nothing can he imputed to any one for righteousness which is not really
righteousness. But it is imputed to us, that is, put to our account, as
if it was ours: for, though it was not performed by us, yet it was performed
by Christ for us, and in our room. Nor in doing this, does God judge otherwise
than as the thing is; for he judges not that we in our own person have
fulfilled that righteousness, which is not true; but that Christ has so
fulfilled it for us, as that by the merit thereof, we may justly he rewarded.
This is so true, that it is the sum of the whole Gospel.

XXXIX. And whereas that righteousness of Christ is in
every respect complete, and God has acknowledged, that full satisfaction
was made to his law to the very utmost, when he raised Christ from the
dead, and called him his righteous servant; it is not necessary
that any thing to come from us should acquire either freedom from punishment
or a right to life. I add, that it could not in justice be demanded of
us. For as the least farthing cannot be demanded by the principal creditor
after the surety has paid him in full for the debtor, it therefore appears,
that they do injury, both to the satisfaction of Christ, and to the justice
of God, who contend, that anything is to be done by men, that is, to be
added to the merits of Christ, as the matter of our justification. For
if, by the satisfaction of Christ, the demand of the law, which prescribes
the condition of life, is perfectly fulfilled, nothing can, or ought to
be joined thereto; that the glory may remain pure and entire to Christ
alone. If there was but the least thing wanting in Christ's satisfaction,
which the law required for righteousness, it would not deserve even the
name of satisfaction; nor would Christ have merited any thing, either for
himself or for us. For nothing is admitted in this judgment but what answers
all the demands of the law.

XL. The scripture confirms this truth, when it sets the
grace of Christ in diametrical opposition to our works, maintaining, that
there can be no mixture of the one with the other. If righteousness
comes by the law, saith the apostle, that is, if, by our works, we
can acquire a right to life eternal, then Christ is dead in vain, Gal.
2.21. And more clearly, Rom. 11.6. "and if by grace, then it is no more
of works; otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then
is it no more grace, otherwise work is no more work." In order clearly
to discern the force of the apostle's inference, it is to be observed,
that there are but two ways by which we can come to the possession of salvation,
according to the two covenants entered into between God and man. For, either
one has a right to life, because he has fully satisfied the demand of the
law, according to the covenant of works; and to him that thus worketh,
is the reward reckoned of debt, Rom. 4.4. Or he hath a right to life,
because the Surety of a better testament has made satisfaction for him,
which, of pure grace and most unmerited favour, is imputed to him, who
worketh not in order to acquire that right, ver. 5. according to the covenant
of grace. As these covenants do, in the whole essence of them differ, and,
in this respect, are contradistinguished from, and set in opposition to
each others it is evident, they conjoin inconsistencies, who would join
together our works with the grace of God, our righteousness with the righteousness
of Christ, in the matter of justification.

XLI. And indeed the apostle expressly declares that there
is nothing in us that can here come into the account, Rom. 3.24. justified
freely by his grace. In respect of God it is of pure grace, which,
as we just said, admits of no partnership with our works. In respect
of us, it is freely, without any thing in us as the cause of
it. For the adverb dwreanfreely, signifies
this: not so much hinting here that justification is a free gift,
as the apostle calls it, Rom. 5.16. (for that the following words denote,
thautwcariti by
his grace,) as that there is nothing in us, by which to obtain it.
The Greek word dwrean, freely, answers
to the Hebrew snj, that is,
without
a cause, which, in that case is found to be false and feigned; as Psalm
69.4. they that hate me without a cause, which is the same thing
as my lying enemies. The former is translated by the Septuagint,
or Greek interpreters, miswnteVmedwrean. Just as John 15.25. emishsanmedwrean,
they hated me without a cause. In like manner, Psalm 35.7. dwrean,
without
a cause have they hid for me their net into a pit. Where
dwresn
does not signify any donation or gift, but the absolute denial of any cause
which could render a man deserving of such treatment. When the apostle
therefore says, we are justified dwresn,
freely,
he teaches us that there is nothing in us, upon which to found the
gracious sentence of our justification, or, for which we can be justified.
Excellently well, says the Greek scholiast, dwreantwtezinaneuswnkatorqwmatwn,
freely, that is, without any merit in thee.

XLII. And this reason may be added,
that nothing can avail in the business of justification but what is entirely
perfect, and can answer the law of God in all things. For in justification
there is a declaration of the righteousness of God, Rom. 3.25,26.
But that requires the righteousness of the law to be fulfilled, Rom.
8.4. The righteousness of the law cannot be fulfilled, but by a perfect
obedience. Chrysostom speaks finely on this place, "what is righteousness?
It is the end, the scope, the righteous action. For, what does the law
want, what does it always command. To be without sin." But no person pretends
to this, but the presumptuous and the liar, 1 John 1.8. We therefore conclude,
that a sinner cannot be justified by any act of his own.

XLIII. The Form of justification consists in these
two acts. 1st. The discharging of unrighteousness. 2dly, The adjudging
of righteousness.

XLIV. Unrighteousness or sin, has a double power over
the sinner. 1st. A power of condemnation. 2dly. A power of dominion.
The
law defends both these powers: the former, by declaring him who sins to
be guilty of death, Rom. 1.32. The other, by giving up the conquered, by
a just sentence, to the conqueror, 2 Pet. 2.19. Wherefore it is said that
the law is the strength off sin, 1 Cor. 15.56. Because sin has its
power from the law, which pronounces the sinner accursed, and the servant
of corruption. Nay, the most holy law of God itself, is called by Paul
the law of sin and of death, Rom. 8.2. Not as if it allowed of any
sin, much less commanded it; but because by its righteous sentence it gives
up the sinner and his children to sin, that it may tyrannize over them
as unworthy of the life of God both in holiness and glory. Now sin does
this both by pushing the sinner on to further degrees of wickedness, and
by hastening and aggravating his condemnation. Who can doubt but all these
things are justly determined by God against the sinner? Why should not
then this sentence, which is founded on the law of the covenant of works,
be called a law? And seeing sin exercises, according to this law,
a dominion over the sinner, and condemns him to death, very appositely
and emphatically has Paul called it the law of sin and death. Sin
therefore, in the judgment of God, insists upon two things against the
sinner, that it may condemn him, and for ever have dominion over him; and
alleges for itself the righteous law of God. And indeed the law, as long
as satisfaction is not made to it, cannot, in this action, or process,
condemn sin, that is, silence or extenuate its accusation, lay aside its
claim, and pronounce it partial or unjust.

XLV. But now the satisfaction of Christ being substituted
and apprehended by faith, by which the whole righteousness of the law is
fulfilled, the man is then justified, and sin condemned, both its claims
being rejected. God declares, (1st.) That there is no condemnation to them
who are in Christ Jesus, that all their sins are pardoned, and that none
of them shall avail to condemnation; because the Surety has, in the fullest
manner, undergone the punishment due to them. And in that respect, forgiveness
of sin is called justification, Rom. 4.6,7. (2dly.) That sin
shall no longer reign in their mortal body; for since Christ did also,
of his own accord, subject himself to those laws which were the hand writing
of sin; they are no longer under the law of sin, but under grace, Rom.
6.14. This justifying sentence of man, and condemning sentence of sin,
are founded on the same law of God, which, if the satisfaction of Christ
be set aside, is the law of sin and death; but if that satisfaction
be supposed, it is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus delivering
man with a liberal hand. For after Christ has once obeyed in the likeness
of sinful flesh for the elect, God declares, that every thing was done
which sin could possibly demand, according to the law, and pronounces a
sentence of liberty from sin to those who by faith receive this grace of
the Lord Christ, both with respect to its condemning and domineering
power,
as the apostle divinely illustrates, Rom. 8.1-3.

XLVI. This deliverance from the guilt and dominion of
sin has, indeed, an indissoluble connection with happiness; therefore they,
whose
iniquities are forgiven, are declared blessed, Rom. 4.7. nevertheless
this alone is not sufficient to happiness. For he who now is set free from
sin, has not immediately a right to life: as is manifest in Adam while
innocent, who, as long as he continued such, had no condemnation to fear,
nevertheless had not yet acquired a right to eternal life. It is therefore
necessary, that that right be also adjudged to man in justification. Which
God does on account of a perfect obedience, agreeably to that promise of
the law, the man that doth these things shall live in them, Lev.
18.5. But what Christ has done for his people, they are accounted, as we
have already often said, to have done in their own person. And in this
manner, "grace reigneth through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus
Christ our Lord," Rom. 5.21.

XLVII. The Mean by which we receive the righteousness
of Christ, and justification depending thereon, is faith, and that
only.
For, if there was any thing besides faith, it would be our own works, proceeding
from the other Christian virtues. But Paul will have them entirely excluded,
Gal. 2.16 "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law,
but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ,
that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works
of the law: for, by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified,"
Rom. 3.28. "therefore we conclude, that a man is justified by faith without
the deeds of the law." All the Christian virtues or graces are contained
in these two, faith and love, which comprehend every affection
of a pious soul. It is the property of love to giveup, and
offer oneself and all he has to God: of faith to
receive and
accept of God freely giving himself to us. And therefore faith alone is
adapted to receive and appropriate the righteousness of Christ, on account
of which we are justified. And this is a truth so certain and clear, that
not a few of the doctors of the school of Rome, and they the principal
and of greatest reputation among them, have acknowledged it, from the very
same passages of scripture which we have advanced. Titelmannus in his paraphrase
on Gal. 2. says, "we then firmly believe, that none can be justified before
God by the works of the law, but only by faith in Christ." Estius
in like manner: "It is evident, that the particle but is in scripture
often taken adversatively, to denote but only;" adding, that all
the interpreters, both Greek and Latin, agree in this interpretation, and
that it is gathered from what follows, and from Rom. 3.28. Sasbout is also
express to the same purpose, who maintains, that Paul's expression is an
Hebraism, and that, according to the Hebrews, the negative particle not
is to be repeated from what went before. "A man is not justified by works,
not but by faith." And he adds: "if you ask, whether it may be rightly
concluded from that proposition, a man is not justified but by faith, therefore
we are justified by faith alone? We are to say, it may." A little after
he adds; "in this our day, the Catholic writers can, on no account, bear
that proposition, imagining that there is poison concealed in that particle
only, and therefore to be disused, Yet the ancients had no such
aversion to that particle, nor Thomas Aquinas: if any, says he, were righteous
under the old law, they were not righteous by the works of the law, but
only by the faith of Jesus Christ. Paul's true meaning is, not unless
by faith, that is, by no merits of our own." Thus Sasbout on Gal. 2.16.

XLVIII. But we are farther to enquire, how faith justifies.
Not certainly in that sense, as if God graciously accepts the act of faith,
and new gospel obedience flowing therefrom in the room of the perfect obedience,
which, from the rigour of the law, we are bound to perform in order to
justification: as the Socinians, and Curcellæus, who imitates them
in this respect, explain it; understanding by faith the observance of the
precepts of the Gospel, which God has prescribed by Christ. For this is
to make void the whole Gospel. The Gospel has not substituted our faith,
but Christ's obedience, by which the righteousness of the law is fulfilled,
in the room of that perfect obedience, which the law required in order
to justification. It is also false, that faith and new obedience are one
and the same thing. I own that faith is a virtue or grace, commanded by
the law of God, and that a believer, by his very believing, obeys God.
I likewise confess, that we are to look upon nothing as a true and living
faith, which is not fruitful in good works. But yet faith is one thing,
and the obedience flowing from it quite another, especially in the matter
of justification, of which we now speak, where Paul always contradistinguishes
the obedience of all manner of works to faith. For it is a rash attempt
to confine to a certain species or kind of works what the apostle says
concerning them all in general. The force of truth extorted from Schlichtingius
this assertion: "faith, in its strict and proper signification, bears the
same relation to obedience as the cause to the effect, as the tree to the
fruit, as the mother to the daughter," contra Meisnerum, p. 325.
In fine, neither the truth nor the justice of God allow our faith and our
obedience, which are imperfect, to be admitted as perfect. For, it is the
will of God, that the righteousness of the law be fulfilled in our justification,
and not that any thing be derogated from it, as we proved §XLII.

XLIX. Others think proper to say, that faith is here considered
as a condition which the covenant of grace requires of us, in order to
our justification. A certain learned divine of ours, in a volume of disputations
lately published, speaks thus: "Nothing can be said with greater probability,
simplicity, and more agreeable to scripture, than that justification is
therefore ascribed to faith, because faith is the condition which the gospel
requires of us in order to our being accounted righteous and innocent before
God." And a little after; "yea, since we affirm that faith alone justifies,
we do not intend, that the alone act of believing, taken precisely, as
it is opposed to acts of love and hope, and distinguished from repentance,
is the condition which the new covenant or the gospel requires, in order
to obtain remission of sin, and be absolved from them on account of Christ.
For, the hope of pardon, and love to God, sorrow also for sin, and purpose
of a new life; in a word, all the acts, requisite to a genuine and serious
conversion, are also somewhat necessary, and altogether prerequisite, in
order for any to be received into the favour of God, and from thence forward
to be accounted a justified person, yea, that a living faith that works
by love, which we affirm alone to justify, includes and implies all these
things." And the learned person imagines these are such truths, as the
doctors both of the Romish and reformed schools receive with common consent.
He also adds: "As often as the apostle affirms, that we are not justified
by works, but by faith, he intends nothing else, but that none can, on
any account, be justified by such observance of the law, as the legal covenant
requires, in order to obtain life thereby, and escape the curse of God;
but that God accounts as righteous, and out of mere grace, freely forgives
all the sins of those, who with sincerity receive the gospel, and from
faith perform obedience thereto." These things justly call for our animadversion.

L. 1st. With this very learned person's leave, I doubt
whether he can persuade any who is not altogether unskilled in theological
matters, that what he has proposed is the received opinion of the reformed
school. I find nothing of this in their confessions and catechisms; but
there is a great deal which does not differ much from the words of the
learned person, in the writings of those, whose unhappy names and heretical
principles, I from my very heart believe are detestable to him.

LI. 2dly. When the discourse is about the relation which
faith bears to justification, the learned person does not seem with sufficient
caution to repeat so often the act of believing. For it is well
known that the reformed churches condemned Arminius and his followers,
for saying, that faith comes to be considered in the matter of justification
as a work or act of ours: whereas the Dutch confession speaks far more
accurately; namely, that faith is here instead of an instrument, whereby
we are joined together with Christ in a partnership or communion of all
his benefits. I am well aware, that this is not very agreeable to the learned
person, who maintains, that faith can be said to be the instrument of justification
no other way but as it is a kind of condition, prerequisite on our part
thereto. But when the Remonstrant apologists, in order to be relieved from
that troublesome expression of our confessions, by their softening interpretations
wrote, that faith is therefore said to be the instrument of justification,
"as it is a work performed by us according to the command, and by the grace
of God. For, a condition, so far as it is performed, may in some measure
be said to become a mean or instrument, whereby we obtain the thing promised
on such a condition," Apolog. p. 112.a. The Reformed protested, that they
were displeased with this explication. They deny not, that our master,
Christ himself says, John 6.29. that faith is a work: neither do they refuse
that in the matter of justification, the apprehending and receiving Christ
is an act of faith: and that faith ought to be so far considered as active.
Yet they deny, that faith justifies as it is an act prescribed by God (for
thus it would stand in the same relation with the other works enjoined
by the law) but they affirm, that we are justified by that act, as by it
we apprehend Christ, are united to him, and embrace his righteousness.
Which they usually explain by this similitude; a beggar's stretching forth
his hand, by which, at the command of a rich man, he receives the free
gift of his charity, is the act of the beggar prescribed by the rich; but
it does not enrich the beggar, as it is an act, but as by this means he
applies the gift to himself, and appropriates, or makes it his own. These
things are too evident to be obscured by any quibbles or subtleties whatever.

LII. 3dly. Nor do I think it an accurate way of speaking,
that faith is the condition, which the gospel requireth of us in order
to be accounted righteous and without guilt before God. The condition of
justification, properly speaking, is perfect obedience only: this the law
requires; nor does the gospel substitute any other: but declares that satisfaction
has been made to the law by Christ our Surety; moreover, that it is the
office of faith to accept that satisfaction offered to it, and by accepting
appropriate the same. Which is quite a different thing from saying (as
the Socinians and Remonstrants do, and which I know not whether the learned
person would choose to say), that in the room of perfect obedience, which
the law prescribed as the condition of justification, the gospel now requireth
faith, as the condition of the same justification. Though some of the Reformed
have said, that faith is a condition, sine qua non, without which we
cannot be justified: yet they were far from being of opinion, that
faith is a condition properly so called, on performing which, man should,
according to the gracious covenant of God, have a right to justification
as to a reward. This is very far from the mind of the truly reformed. See
what the celebrated Triglandius has fully, solidly, and perspicuously reasoned
against the subtle trifling of the Remonstrants in Examine Apologiæ,
c. 20,21. and Isaac Junius in Antapologia, p. 236.

LIII. 4thly. Neither is it according to the mind of the
reformed church, that the acts of hope and love, nay, all those which are
required to a true and serious conversion, are included in justifying faith
as justifying, and concur with faith, strictly so called, to justification.
When the Remonstrants said in their confession, that "faith contains in
its compass the whole of a man's conversion prescribed by the gospel: nay,
the prescript of faith can here be considered in no other light, than as,
by its natural propriety, it includes the obedience of faith, and is as
a fruitful parent of good works, and the fountain and source of all Christian
piety and holiness," c. 10. § 2,3. The Leyden professors in their
censure remarked, "that the adversaries, who write in this manner, and
throw off the mask, ascribe to faith the Socinian-Popish faith of
justification, which Peter Bertius, a principal asserter of this, found
to be the way to popery." And this assertion of theirs they make out by
solid arguments. And when the Remonstrant apologist, foolishly said, that
this his opinion differed not from the common doctrine of the reformed
churches, the venerable Triglandius replied, that "it was clearer than
noon day, that this was too barefaced an assertion." The whole comes to
this, that no faith justifies, but that which is living and fruitful in
good works; that acts of love and holiness are required, as fruits of faith,
as testimonies of Christ dwelling in us, as marks of our regeneration,
as what go before salvation, and without which there can be no full assurance
of it. But that those acts of love, holiness, and conversion, concur with
faith to justification, and are included in justifying faith, as such,
is a strange way of speaking to reformed ears, nor agreeable to scripture,
which always, in the matter of justification, sets faith in opposition
to all works whatever.

LIV. 5thly. Some time ago I read in Socinus, before
the sentiments of this celebrated person came to hand, the same exception
which he makes, that, by the works which Paul excludes from justification,
is understood the perfect observance of the law, such as the legal covenant
requires. For thus he says de servat. P. 4. c. 11. "the works to
which faith is opposed are not every kind of works, nor taken and considered
in every light, but, as we have observed elsewhere, these works denote
an absolute and perpetual observance and performance of the divine law,
through the whole course of life." But our divines openly declared against
this exposition; who contend that all works, however considered, are opposed
to faith. The apostle's words are plain, he that worketh not, but believeth,
and
his mind or intention, as Lubbertus has learnedly observed, is to be considered
from the state of the controversy, then in debate. But the state of the
controversy was not, whether a man could be justified by a perfect observance
of the law, if there was any one who could keep it perfectly? Which none
in his senses will deny: or whether there are many, who, since Adam's first
sin, have, for the whole of their life, done nothing amiss, but have attained
to every perfection both of parts, degrees and perseverance? Which none
in his right mind will affirm. But the matter in question was, whether
the Jews could be justified by that observance of the law which they were
able to perform. They certainly thought that they could be justified if
they only observed the moral law to the utmost of their power, and gave
these satisfactions for their failings which the ceremonial law had prescribed.
But the apostle denies this, resting his argument on that maxim, that the
righteousness which can be valid at God's tribunal, must be perfect in
all its parts: but since none can pretend to any such works, he concludes,
that no works, of what kind soever, can contribute any thing to obtain
justification. The apostle, doubtless, excludes those works in which they
commonly trusted, who endeavoured to establish their own righteousness.
But it is not credible, that any of them could say, that he kept himself
pure, through the whole course of his life from every even the least stain
of sin. These things are evident.

LV. But I would not have it wrested to the worst sense,
in that I have in some things compared the opinion of this celebrated person
with that of Socinus and the Remonstrants. It was not with the view
to rank a man, in other respects orthodox, and usefully employed in the
service of the church of God, with those perverters of our faith. This
of all things is farthest from my mind and manner: but my design was only
to warn those under my care, and who may reap benefit by the very learned
labours of this person, with considerable increase of knowledge, against
these and the like expressions; in which, through a disgust for controversy,
and a too eager desire of laying disputes aside, he seems to yield rather
too much to our adversaries. Peace indeed is to be pursued, but by no means
at the expense of truth.

LVI. The genuine opinion of the reformed is this: that
faith justifies, as it is the bond of our strictest union with Christ,
by which all things that are Christ's become also ours, as we explained
§XXXI.
Or, which is the same thing, as it is the acceptance of the gift offered,
rendering the donation firm and irrevocable. And this is what the apostle
intended when he wrote Rom. 4.5. that faith is counted for righteousness,
that is, faith is judged to be that with which the right of demanding
the reward is connected; a way of speaking borrowed from merchants, thus
in the book of God's accompts is set down what he hath given to us, and
what we are indebted to him. But when in the other page, our complete obedience,
and the payment of the debt could not be inserted, what then is written
there, viz. to balance the account? In the first place, our righteousness
or the righteousness of Christ wrought out for us: then our faith3
by which we receive that righteousness offered to us, and present it to
God as ours.

LVII. It is, moreover, to be observed, that justification,
if we take in whatever can be comprised under that name, consists of various
articles,4
or periods, which we will describe in the most pointed manner we can. And
first, God's sentence of absolution regards either all the elect in general
collected into one mystical body; or relates to each in particular. I observe
two
articles with respect to that general sentence: the first
of
which commenced immediately upon the fall; when Christ, having entered
into suretiship engagements for elect sinners, obtained by his covenant,
which the Father was assured he would most faithfully perform, that Satan
should be condemned in the serpent, his right over man, which he acquired
by wicked arts, be made void as to the elect: and the elect, on the other
hand, who are comprehended under the seed of the woman, be declared, in
Christ their head, no longer friends or subjects, but enemies and conquerors
of the devil. For, all these things are contained in the first gospel promise;
which presupposes that suretiship of Christ, whereby he took upon himself
all the sins of the elect, and on account of which God declared, he never
intended to exact them from any of his chosen; because, on admitting a
Surety, the principal debtor is freed from all obligation to make satisfaction.
And this is the first effect of Christ's suretiship, the declaration of
that counsel of God, by which he had purposed to justify the ungodly; and
not to impute sin to those who are inserted as heirs in the testament.

LVIII. The other article of this general justification
relates to the time in which God declared that full satisfaction was made
to his justice by a dying Christ. Of which Paul treats 2 Cor. 5.19. "God
was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses
unto them. He, together and at once reconciled to himself the whole world
of his elect; and declared that he would not impute their trespasses to
any of them, on account of the perfect satisfaction of Christ. For, when
he raised Christ from the dead, he gave him a discharge, in testimony that
the payment was made; and when he rent the vail of the temple, he also
tore the hand writing consisting in ordinances, which, till that time,
loudly proclaimed that payment was not yet made. But who can doubt, that
a creditor, tearing the hand writing or bond, and giving a discharge to
the Surety, declares, he will not, and even in law cannot, demand any satisfaction
of the principal debtor?

LIX. But justification is not confined to these bounds.
Besides that general declaration of God, there is also another,
applied to every believer in particular. And this again has its
distinct articles. The first is, when the elect person, who is redeemed,
regenerated and united to Christ by a living faith, is declared to have
now actually passed from a state of condemnation and wrath, to a state
of grace or favour. For, the elect sinner, though redeemed by Christ, and
so far reconciled to God, as that he declares, he is never actually to
be condemned; yet that right, purchased by Christ, is not applied to him
till he is regenerated and united to Christ by faith. Till then he is in
"the present evil world," Gal. 1.4; "alienated and an enemy, and under
the power of darkness," Col. 1.13,21. But immediately, on his receiving
Christ by faith, God declares in the court of heaven, that he is no longer
under wrath, but under grace; though perhaps the justified person may yet
be ignorant of it. And in this sense God is said to justify the ungodly,
Rom.
4.5; him who is so in himself, and actually continues such till he is born
again, when that faith is freely bestowed on him for which he is immediately
justified.

LX. The second article is, when that sentence of
God, which was pronounced in the court of heaven, is intimated and
insinuated
to the conscience by the Holy Spirit; so that the believer knows, feels,
and experiences, that his sins are forgiven. To this David has an eye,
Psalm 32.5. "and thou hast taken away, or thou forgavest the iniquity of
my sin," that is, thou madest me to know and experience this, by speaking
to my heart.

LXI. The third article is, when the sinner, being
actively and passively justified, is admitted to familiar converse with
God, and to the mutual participation of the most delightful friendship.
For it may happen, that God may have removed the tokens of his anger from
the elect sinner, and given him assurance of it, and yet not directly admit
him to an intercourse of familiarity. In the same manner almost, as David
had forgiven Absalom's parricide, and declared it by Joab, by ordering
his return from Geshur to Jerusalem; yet he did not immediately admit him
to court, much less to his presence chamber, and least of all to the kisses
of his mouth, 2 Sam. 14. David himself is an example of this. Nathan had
told him, in the name of God, "the Lord hath put away thy sin," 2 Sam.
13.13. and yet, for some time, he was racked with grievous sorrows, crying
out from the bottom of a contrite heart, and a sense of broken bones; "have
mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness; according unto
the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions," Psalm
51.1. That is, as he explains it, ver. 12. "restore unto me the joy of
thy salvation." This near and intimate access to God, as the author of
his most joyful exultation, is the real declaration of his justification.
And it is to be observed, that such a declaration is often repeated. For
instance, when a believer happens to fall into some grievous sin, or into
a languid and drowsy frame of soul, then his familiarity with God is not
a little interrupted; but after he is roused out of that sin, or from that
drowsy frame by the preventing grace of God, and has been sufficiently
exercised with the stings of conscience, then God applies that general
sentence of the pardon of all his sins, which was pronounced immediately
upon his regeneration, to this particular act, or state, and suffers himself
to be prevailed on at length to renew this most delightful friendship.

LXII. The fourth article is immediately after death;
when God assigns to the soul, on its departure from the body, an eternal
mansion in his own blessed habitation, Heb. 9.27. "it is appointed unto
men once to die, but after this the judgment."

LXIII. The fifth and last article is at the
last day, which is therefore called the day of judgment, Matt.
12.36. when the elect shall be publicly justified, and, in the view of
the whole world, declared heirs of eternal life. Which justification indeed,
may be called universal, as all those, who are to be justified,
shall appear together before God's tribunal, nevertheless it will be most
particular,
as every one shall be recompensed according to his works; "we must
all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may
receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether
it be good or bad," 2 Cor. 5.10.

LXIV. Let us briefly explain the whole manner of this
justification in the next world. Christ, the judge, being
delegated to that office by the Father, Acts 10.42. Acts 17,32. will pronounce
two things concerning his elect. (1st.) That they are truly pious, righteous
and holy. And so far this justification will differ from the former; for
by that the ungodly is justified, Rom. 4.5. Whereas here, God, when
he enjoins his angels to summon one of the parties to be judged, says,
"gather my saints together," Psalm 50.5. if, as many suppose, these
words refer to the last judgment. See Matt. 13.40,41,43.49. (2dly.) That
they have a right to eternal life, Matt. 20.35.

LXV. The ground of the former declaration is inherent
righteousness, graciously communicated to man by the Spirit of sanctification,
and good works proceeding therefrom. For on no other account can any person
be declared pious and holy, but because he is endowed with habitual holiness,
and gives himself to the practice of godliness, Matt. 12.37. "by thy words
thou shalt be justified," that is, be declared just or righteous, because
words are indications of the mind, and signs either of the good or bad
treasure of the heart; "when the Lord will bring to light the hidden things
of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart; and then
shall every man have praise of God," 1 Cor. 4.5.

LXVI. The foundation of the latter can be no other
than the righteousness of Christ the Lord, communicated to them
according to the free decree of election, which is succeeded by adoption,
which gives them a right to take possession of the inheritance. The very
sentence of the Judge himself leads us to this: come, ye blessed of
my Father, whom, on my account, he freely loved (for, in Christ all
the nations of the earth are blessed, Gen. 22.18. Eph. 1.3.), inherit,
possess by hereditary right, as the adopted sons of God, who, because
ye are sons, are also heirs, Rom. 8.17. "the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world;" ordained for you from eternity,
whose palace was fitted up in the beginning for that purpose, by the hands
of God the Creator.

LXVII. Mean while, in this respect too, there will be
room for mentioning good works, for they shall be produced, (1st.) As proofs
of faith, of the union of believers with Christ, of their adoption,
and of that holiness, without which none can see God, and of friendship
with God, and brotherhood with Christ. (2dly.) As signs of that sacred
hunger
and thirst, with which they desired happiness, and of that strenuous
endeavour, by which, not regarding the advantages of
this life, and despising
carnal pleasures, they had sought the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness;
and it is inconsistent with the perfection of the infinitely holy God,
to disappoint this hunger and thirst, and seeking after his kingdom. (3dly.)
As effects of divine grace, to which, the communication of divine
glory will answer, in the most wise proportion, when it shall come
to crown his own gifts. For the more abundant measure of sanctification
any one has obtained in this life, and the more he has gained by the talent
entrusted to him, it is also credible, that the portion of glory will be
the more exuberant, which the divine bounty hath appointed for him. And
in this sense, we imagine, it is so often said in scripture, that every
one shall be recompensed according to his works, not that these works are,
on any account, the cause of any right they will have, to claim the reward;
but as they are evidences of our adoption and of our seeking the chief
good, and as they shew that proportion of grace, according to which the
proportion of future glory will be dispensed.

LXVIII. In this judgment, therefore,
there will also be grace mixed with justice. Justice will appear
because none will be admitted to the possession of the kingdom of heaven,
but he who can shew by undoubted evidences, that he is a partaker of Christ
and his righteousness. Grace also will appear, because eternal happiness
will be adjudged to him, who has done nothing to acquire a right to it;
because works, stained with so many infirmities, as justly make believers
themselves blush, will then be celebrated with so great an encomium by
the Judge. And indeed the apostle does in express words make mention of
the mercy that will be shewn on that day, 2 Tim. 1.18. "the
Lord grant unto him, that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day." It
is certainly true, that by mercy is there understood the reward of that
mercy which Onesiphorus had shewn to Paul: but the reward of our mercy
is not reckoned of debt, but of grace, Rom. 4.4. And as it is not
merited on the part of him who receives it, so neither is it due from him
who bestows it. For what doth God owe to man, but what he hath made himself
a debtor to man by his gracious promises; or rather was willing to owe
to his own goodness and truth, that man might expect from him a retribution
for his holiness? Which debt is not opposed to, but supposes grace; it
is to be derived from the "alone gracious will and truth of God
the Father, who hath promised an unmerited reward to the labour of obedience
which is the duty of all, and will have this to be only due on account
of his promise." As becomes a reformed teacher to speak who returns to
his sound mind.

LXIX. Whence it appears, that they do not speak right,
who affirm, that in the last justification mere justice will take place
without any mixture of grace. It is said indeed, Heb. 6.10. God
is not unrighteous to forget your work, &c. But that the reward
of our works is of mere justice, without any mixture of grace, is language
which sounds harsh in reformed ears, and is diametrically repugnant to
our catechism, quest. 63.5
Ludovicus de Dieu, on Luke 1.2,57. and on Luke 16.19. and on Rom. 3.4.
has proved at large, that in the Hebrew, Syriac, and Arabic languages,
justice and truth denote one and the same notion, and generally are put
one for the other. Thus hqrx,
justice, or righteousness, when affirmed of God, in many places denotes
his truth. But also tma
truth, is translated by the Septuagint, dicaiosunh,
justice,
or righteousness, Gen. 24.49. Isa. 38.19. And Grævius has
proved, that the same phraseology obtained among the ancient Greeks, in
his Lectiones Hesiod. And what is more suitable than by the mammon of
unrighteousness, Luke 16.9. to understand not the true riches, such
as the spiritual and heavenly are, for ver. 11. the unrighteous mammon
is opposed to the true riches. Is not that signification of the
word clear from 1 John 1.9. "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins:" that is, faithful and true? For, who will
say that God owes the pardon of sins in justice, without any mixture of
grace, to him that confesseth them? So also in the place just quoted; God
is not unrighteous, that is, deceives not in his gracious promises
by which he has adjudged a reward of grace, to our labours of love. The
celebrated Iac. Altingius gives us an excellent commentary on this place
as follows: "the obligation to the reward depends on the truth of the promiser,
who is a debtor to himself, that what he was once pleased, in the promise,
to determine the consequence of the work and reward, might always please
him in the performance: thus the just and righteous God forgives the sins
of the penitent, 1 John 1.9. is the justifier of him that believeth," Rom.
3.26. And a little after: "every consideration of merit therefore is at
an end: but a debt remains, which justice will have discharged in respect
of what God has promised; who, on account of his truth, which is without
repentance, or unchangeable, is debtor to himself to perform his promises,
Rom. 3.3,4. Deut. 7.9. This is the justice meant in this place, and
God is denied to be unrighteous to forget good works; though he has decreed
and promised, out of mere grace and mercy, that recompence:" all this
is judicious, solid, and orthodox.

LXX. This manifestation of mere justice is not more strongly
concluded from that day being called the day of the righteous judgment,
Rom.
2.5. For, (1st.) It is there called the day of wrath. And yet wrath
will not he exercised only, without a manifestation of mercy. (2dly.) Even
in the justification of a sinner, in this world, there is
a declaration
of the righteousness of God, Rom. 3.25; where notwithstanding, as Paul
expressly affirms ver. 24. and all own, grace has the principal place:
so also here grace reigneth through righteousness unto eternal life,
Rom. 5.21. (3dly.) As God will justly inflict punishments on the impenitent,
so in like manner, agreeably to his justice, he will distribute rewards,
and shew grace to the godly, as we explained §LXVIII.
Justice and grace are here not to be opposed but joined together.

LXXI. What is asserted Rom. 2.11. viz. that with God there
is no respect of persons, is still less sufficient to confirm this
opinion. For because God does all things without respect of persons, does
it follow that he exercises no grace? When Peter took notice of the piety
and faith of Cornelius, and said, Of a truth I perceive, that God is
no respecter of persons, Acts 10.34. did he ever intend by these words
to deny that grace was shewn to Cornelius? A non-respect of persons excludes,
indeed, injustice, and the consideration of these things which ought to
have no place in judgment; but it no ways excludes grace and mercy. These
things have been so often confuted that there is no occasion to consider
them again.

LXXII. It is a new opinion, and an extraordinary postulatum,
to say, that the works of those who are to be justified, and according
to which they shall be judged, will be "perfect, yea most perfect, that
nothing may derogate from the righteousness of the judgment of that day."
It is a certain truth, that the persons then to be justified, will
be perfect: (1st.) In Christ, on account of his most perfect righteousness
imputed to them, Col. 2.10. (2dly.) In themselves, being then perfectly
sanctified: For they who died before that time are called just men made
perfect, Heb. 12.23; and they who shall at that day be alive shall
be changed, 1 Cor. 15.51,52. and doubtless obtain perfect holiness
by that change which the others obtained at death. But that the works which
they performed in this life, can then be said to be most perfect, is neither
consonant with scripture nor reason.

LXXIII. The scripture declares, that the works which were
done by believers in this life, were not without blemish; because they
who performed them had the old man still remaining, who mixed and tainted
them with some corruption of his own, Rom. 7.22-24. Gal. 5.15: This is
without dispute. But the scripture no where says, that these works shall
appear otherwise at the last judgment, than they did in this life; nay,
it asserts the contrary, when it testifies, that every one shall be judged
according
to that he hath done in his body, 2 Cor. 5.10; but it is certain that
the things done in the body were imperfect. It is also contrary to reason,
to say that actions which were imperfect while they were performing, and
actually existing, should be declared to be perfect when they were no more;
and perfect not only in the estimation of God the Judge, but also by, I
know not what, sanctification, really perfecting them when they had no
further existence. No doubt habits which are holy when first infused,
are perfected by a further sanctification; but that actions which
were imperfect while they existed, should become perfect, after they have
ceased to be, is inconceivable.

LXXIV. Seeing what we are taught in scripture concerning
the perfection of believers by a progressive sanctification and the death
of the body, regards their persons, about the perfection, of which,
there is no dispute, it is erroneous to apply it to their antecedent works.
That God refines those works like gold, purging away all their tin and
dross, so as to be altogether pure in his eyes, is an unscriptural fancy.
The passages, Isa 1.25. Zech 13.9. Mal. 3.3. do not treat of works but
of persons, nor speak of their absolute perfection, nor have a reference
to the day of the last judgment, but relate to the condition of the present
life, as will plainly appear to any who will peruse them; and can therefore
with no probability be wrested to this sense.

LXXV. Indeed the good works of those who die in the Lord
are said to follow them, Rev. 14.13. but they are such as they were performed
here; and they follow, not in themselves, but in their fruits and effects;
in so far as God, in regard of their good works, does good to the pious
even after death. For this end it is not requisite that they be perfect;
it is sufficient that they be performed in faith, and by the Spirit of
Christ. I do not remember that the scripture says, that good works shall
rise with them. They who speak thus, mean no more, at least they ought
to mean no more by that phrase, but that in the resurrection of the just,
the pious shall rejoice in the gratuitous reward of their holiness. It
is said indeed that he, who hath begun a good work in believers, "will
perform it until the day of Jesus Christ," Phil. 1.6. But by a good work
is there meant the communication of the grace of Christ revealed in the
gospel, as appears from ver. 5. which God perfects in certain degrees,
till the finishing hand is put to it at the last day. There is nothing
in that passage relating to the perfection of our actions, which are already
over and gone.

LXXVI. In the last place, if good works are there to appear
perfect, there can be no reason why they should not be meritorious. For
that is certainly meritorious which satisfies every demand of the law;
if merit is to be ascribed to such a work, which when a man does, he is
to live therein, according to the law of the covenant of works. It is not
required to meritorious works, in the sense now in debate, that they are
not due and properly our own, that is, that they are done in our own strength
without the grace of God. For the Papists themselves readily acknowledge,
that there are no such meritorious works. But by those meritorious works,
which are the present subject of dispute, are understood such actions,
on performing which one has a right to life. But the only or at least the
principal reason, why our works are not meritorious, is what the catechism
assigns,6
because they are imperfect and stained with sin.

LXXVII. Nor will the righteousness of the judgment of
that day be in the least diminished, though the works of believers, by
which they shall be judged, are imperfect. For, they will not be mentioned
as the causes of their right to claim the reward, to which perfection is
requisite; but as effects and signs of grace, and of union with Christ,
and of a living faith, and of justification by faith, and of a right to
life: for which their unfeigned sincerity is sufficient. We therefore conclude,
that the justification in the next world is not to be so very much distinguished
from the justification in this world.

LXXVIII. As this doctrine of free justification, on account
of the righteousness of Christ, apprehended by faith alone, is founded
on clear testimonies of scripture; so it proves itself to every pious conscience,
by its most excellent uses and fruits.

LXXIX. 1st. It tends much to display the glory of God,
whose most exalted perfections shine forth with an eminent lustre in this
matter. It sets forth the infinite goodness of God, by which he
was inclined to procure salvation freely for lost and miserable man, "to
the praise of the glory of his grace," Eph. 1.6. It displays also the strictest
justice, by which he would not forgive even the smallest offence, but on
condition of the sufficient engagement, or full satisfaction of the Mediator,
"that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus,"
Rom. 3.26. It shews further the unsearchable wisdom of the Deity, which
found out a way, for the exercise of the most gracious act of mercy, without
injury to his strictest justice and infallible truth, which threatened
death to the sinner: justice demanded that the soul that sinned should
die, Rom. 1.32. Truth had pronounced, "cursed is he that continueth not
in all things," Deut. 28.26. Goodness, in the mean time, was inclined to
adjudge life to some sinners, but by no other way than what became the
majesty of the most holy God. Here wisdom interposed, saying, "I will fully
satisfy my goodness, and say to mine elect, I, even I am he that blotteth
out thy transgressions for mine own sake, Isa. 43.25. Nor shall you, my
justice and my truth, have any cause of complaint, because full satisfaction
shall be made to you by a mediator." Hence the incredible philanthropy
of the Lord Jesus shineth forth, who, though Lord of all, was made subject
to the law, not to the obedience of it only, but also to the curse; "made
sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him," 2 Cor.
5.21.

LXXX. Ought not the pious soul, who is deeply engaged
in the devout meditation of these things, to break out into the praises
of a justifying God, and sing with the church, Mic. 7.17. "who is a God
like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by transgression!"
"O! the purity of that holiness, which chose rather to punish the sins
of the elect in his only begotten Son, than suffer them to go unpunished!
O! the abyss of his love to the world, for which he spared not his dearest
Son, in order to spare sinners! O! the depth of the riches of unsearchable
wisdom, by which he exercises mercy towards the penitent guilty, without
any stain to the honour of the most impartial Judge! O! the treasures of
love in Christ, whereby he became a curse for us, in order to deliver us
therefrom." How becoming the justified soul, who is ready to dissolve in
the sense of this love, with full exultation to sing a new song, a song
of mutual return of love to a justifying God?

LXXXI. 2dly. This doctrine is likewise calculated for
the humility of the sinner, from whom it cuts off all boasting, that the
glory may remain unstained to God alone. "What hast thou, O man, to boast
of? What, wherewith thou canst stand before the tribunal of God? Good works?
But all thy righteousnesses are as filthy rags, Isa. 64.6. If thou leanest
on them, they are, Pope Adrian VI. himself being Judge, like the staff
of a reed which shall break, and pierce thy leaning hand. Perhaps thou
wilt boast of thy faith, as if by the excellency of that thou canst please
God. But even that is like a shaken and shattered reed, to which thou canst
not safely trust; and whatever it be, it is the gift of God, Phil. 1.29.
Thou hast received; why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received?
1 Cor. 4.7. Thou hast nothing of thine own to present to God. Indeed thou
hast a great deal of thine own, but it is either sin, or at least what
is stained with sin; for which if thou hast deserved any thing, it is only
hell, or that which is worse than hell, if any such thing can be. And canst
thou, O most wretched creature, boast of any such vanity!" Rom. 3.27.

LXXXII. 3dly. It conduces above all to the consolation
of the afflicted soul, bewailing his sins with godly sorrow; whom we may
address in this manner, from the very genius, or nature of this doctrine.
"Indeed, thy sins are both more numerous and greater, than thou canst either
conceive or express: but behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the
sins of the world. Every thing in thee is infected with much sin: but
thanks be to God, the cause of thy justification is not to be sought for
in thee: we are justified freely by his grace. Thou hast to do with a most
righteous judge, who will not clear the guilty: but behold Jesus the Surety,
who, by a full expiation, has brought it to pass, that he can justify the
ungodly, without any violation of his justice. Having such a leader and
guardian, approach without fear to this judge, being assured, that Jesus
thy patron or powerful friend will so plead thy cause, that thou shalt
not be cast. Canst thou not yet venture? What should hinder? Do thy sins,
thy nakedness and thy pollution affright thee? But take shelter behind
Christ, hide thyself in his wounds, wrap thyself in his death and blood,
receive, with the hand of faith, the offered fine linen, the righteousness
of the saints. Is thy faith itself so weak that thou art ashamed and grieved?
But again thanks be to God, that thou art not to be justified for thy faith,
or for any worthiness that is in it, but if it is true and sincere, however
weak, it is the band of thy union and communion with Christ. And being
united to him, present thyself to God without fear, undauntedly also before
the devil, and all who take pleasure to accuse thee. Humbly confess whatever
sin may be objected against thee: but add, that they shall no doubt triumph
in the judgment when they shall make it appear, that the merits and satisfaction
of Christ are not sufficient to atone for and remove them, or thou not
suffered to plead those merits of Christ in judgment. I challenge the devil
and all his accomplices: Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's
elect? It is God that justifieth, &c. Doest thou believe these
things? Thou doest, but with faultering and hesitation. Fight manfully
against all the temptations of unbelief, and even now, thou shalt receive
that white stone, and new name written thereon, which none knoweth, but
he who receiveth it; and the hidden manna, which having tasted, thou wilt
enjoy thy life in patience, and death in desire." This is comfort indeed:
they, who build not on these foundations, are certainly, like Job's friends,
miserable comforters. It is memorable what the reverend Voetius, Disput.
2. p. 754. relates of John Frederic, duke of Saxony, who acquainted Luther
that George, duke of Saxony, comforted his son John, in the agonies of
death, with the righteousness of faith, desiring him to look to Christ
alone, and disclaim his own merits and the invocation of saints. And when
the wife of the aforesaid John (who was sister to Philip landgrave of Hesse)
asked duke George, why these things were not thus publicly taught, made
answer, O daughter, such things are to be said to the dying only.
O the force of truth, breaking forth even from the breasts of those who
are set against it.

LXXXIII. 4thly. This doctrine is exceedingly powerful
to promote godliness. (1.) Because it lays, as a foundation, a submissive
humility of soul, presuming nothing of itself, without which there is no
holiness that deserves the name. (2.) Because we teach, that no faith justifies,
but what is the fruitful parent of good works. And can any one really believe,
that he, who is himself a most unworthy sinner, is, without any merit of
his own, received into the favour of God, delivered from the expectation
of hell, and favoured with the hope of a blessed eternity, and not, in
every respect, and by all means be obedient to so benevolent a Lord? Can
he believe, that God the Father spared not his own Son, that he might spare
this slave: that God the Son bore so many things grievous to mention and
hard to suffer, that he might procure pardon for the guilty, and a right
to life: that God, the Holy Ghost, should enter his heart, as the messenger
and earnest of so great a happiness, and love those so ardently, who had
no love for him? Can he then provoke the Father by disobedience? Trample
on the Son by his wickedness, and profane his blood? Can he grieve the
Spirit the Comforter? Indeed, such a one knows not what faith is, who imagines,
that it consists in a strong persuasion destitute of good works. (3dly.)
Because it teacheth a sublime pitch of holiness, by which a person, laying
aside every mercenary affection, can love God and virtue for itself, direct
every thing to the glory of God alone, and securely trust him with the
free reward of his works. Here now we appeal to the conscience of our adversaries,
which is the safer way, whether that which we point out to our people,
or what they would have theirs to walk in? We both agree, that without
good works none shall be saved. Now whether is it safer to say, Do good
works, with a presumption of merit; or, do them with all diligence and
energy of soul; because you cannot be saved without them: yet, having done
all, own thyself to be an unprofitable servant, and look for heaven as
a free gift. If works merit nothing, doubtless he offends God who boasts
of his merits. But if they deserve any thing, yet I, though performing
them diligently, dare not arrogate any thing to myself from merit: of what
detriment, pray, will that humility be? We conclude, that a doctrine, whose
advantages are so many, and so considerable, cannot but be true.

Footnotes:

1. ENCHUSANO
meo. For it seems Tapperus was born at Enkhuysen as well as Witsius.

3. The author does not here
mean, that faith, as an act of ours, justifies: for he has sufficiently
explained himself on that head; he only mentions faith here as the instrument
by which we lay hold on Christ's righteousness whereby our debt, both of
duty and punishment, is fully paid.

4. The word articulus
is of various significations; but it is plain from the sequel, that the
author here uses it, for a moment or period, so that he here gives us a
very distinct account of the Time of justification.

5.Question. 63. How
is it, that our good works merit nothing, since God promises that he will
give a reward for them both in this life and the life to come? Answer.
That reward is not given out of merit but of grace.

6.Question. 62. Why
cannot our good works be righteousness, or some part of righteousness before
God? Answer. Because that righteousness, which must stand before
the judgment of God, must be in all points perfect and agreeable to the
law of God. But our works, even the best of them, are imperfect in this
life, and defiled with sin.